MADISON, Wis. (NewsNation Now) — The pandemic hit Big Ten football just two weeks into its season Wednesday as No. 9 Wisconsin canceled its game at Nebraska and paused team activities for at least a week after a dozen people in the program — including coach Paul Chryst — tested positive for COVID-19.
University of Wisconsin Athletic director Barry Alvarez and Chancellor Rebecca Blank made the decision in consultation with Big Ten officials. Alvarez said the team had only one positive test two days before Friday’s season-opening over Illinois and 12 positive tests afterward.
“With the number of positives in that short a timeline, the chancellor and I felt we have an issue, that we have to make this decision and get our arms around this and control the COVID and virus now before it got out of hand,” Alvarez said.
Alvarez said Wisconsin had reached the “orange/red” levels in the Big Ten protocols based on its rate of positive tests. The Big Ten says teams in that area must proceed with caution; among the steps is considering the viability of playing.
Chryst said he underwent a polymerase chain reaction test Tuesday and learned Wednesday morning he was positive.
“Physically, I feel good,” Chryst said. “Certainly disappointed for what’s happened. … As we’ve gone about this, we were wanting the opportunity, and our players were wanting the opportunity to play. To not have that opportunity, and I know why and I support and understand why we’re not (playing), but when you have a hand in it … that’s where there’s disappointment.”
School officials said six players and six staff members tested positive over the last five days. Additional test results were pending.
Wisconsin becomes the first Big Ten school to cancel a game since the league started its pandemic-delayed season five days ago. It was the 37th game involving Football Bowl Subdivision teams to be postponed or canceled since Aug. 6.
The announcement followed reports that quarterback Graham Mertz had tested positive twice – which would require him to sit out at least 21 days under Big Ten protocols – and that backup quarterback Chase Wolf had tested positive at least once.
Last year’s starting quarterback, Jack Coan, is already out indefinitely following foot surgery. The Badgers’ only other scholarship quarterback is junior Danny Vanden Boom.
Rescheduling the Nebraska game would have been problematic because the Big Ten’s nine-game schedule doesn’t give teams any off weeks.
Nebraska had no immediate comment on the cancellation. Alvarez said he contacted Nebraska athletic director Bill Moos.
“I thought Bill was very professional and understanding,” Alvarez said. “He felt disappointed for us and I’m sure disappointed that we weren’t going to play a game.”
Wisconsin’s next scheduled game is Nov. 7 at home against Purdue, but that matchup also could be in jeopardy.
“We’ll see where we are as far as testing, and we’ll make that decision as we move closer to the game,” Alvarez said.
The Big Ten requires teams to play at least six games to be eligible for the league championship game. If the average number of conference games played by all Big Ten teams is below six, programs must play no less than two fewer league games than that average to be considered.
The team has separated players who live together in an attempt to mitigate the virus’ spread. Players who test positive must undergo comprehensive cardiac testing and be cleared by a university-designated cardiologist before they can return to action. Chryst must self-isolate for 10 days.
School officials are trying to figure out what they can do better to prevent additional cases. As photos started circulating on social media that showed Chryst’s mask didn’t cover his nose at times during Friday’s game, he noted that he wore both a mask and a face shield in practice Tuesday.
“I don’t profess to be an expert on this, but this is one part of the virus – it gets you in a number of different ways,” Chryst said. “We don’t know, did we have one super spreader? I don’t know. But you’re absolutely always going to look at how can we be better.”
The Big Ten season was originally postponed in August. Big Ten Commissioner Kevin Warren had released an open letter later that month saying fall sports, including football, would not be coming back this fall. Officials confirmed the season was back in September.
The Pac-12 announced the resumption of its football, basketball and winter sports seasons in September.
